In a historic first, Kashmir saffron gets GI certification

Saffron raised in Kashmir has officially received a geographical indicator (GI) tag. Lieutenant Governor G C Murmu said this is a historical step in placing the Kashmir valley on the global map, Press Trust of India reported.  

According to an official, the Union government issued a certificate of GI registration for the saffron grown in the Kashmir valley. Navin K Choudhary, Principal Secretary to Government, Agricultural Production Department said GI certification establishes specific geographical origin and certifies certain unique qualities of the product, the report said.

Pampore, the hub of saffron of where saffron is grown in Kashmir, is expecting to have a bumper crop due to initiatives taken by the National Mission on Saffron (NMS), this season.

Lieutenant governor (LG), Girish Chander Murmu took a keen interest in getting a GI tag for the saffron, the report said.

According to the report, under the NMS, the Union government approved a project of Rs 411 crore where an area of 3,715 hectares for saffron was proposed to be rejuvenated. According to an official, an area of 2,500 hectares has been rejuvenated so far and a bumper production is expected during the current season.

Murmu said that after completion and inauguration of the State of Art Spice Park next month, these measures will prove to be a game-changer for Kashmiri saffron, adding that this is the first major step to put saffron produced in the Kashmir Valley on the world map.

Sprinkler irrigation systems are being installed on a war footing in saffron fields, it is likely to be completed in two weeks under directions of LG.